aprender inglés
/apɾendeɾ inɡles/from spelling rules
To say 'learn english' in Spanish, you say aprender inglés.
Depending on your focus, there are other ways to express related ideas: if you want to emphasize the study aspect, you can use estudiar inglés. If you want to focus on the acquisition of skills in a formal way, you can use adquirir habilidades en inglés. For a colloquial way to say 'put effort into English', you can say echarle ganas al inglés. And in slang, you might use meterle al inglés to mean 'get into English' or 'engage in English'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, people predominantly use the phrase aprender inglés to express 'learn English'.
How does it change in a sentence?
In many Spanish-speaking regions, it is more common and grammatically standard to include the definite article 'el' before the language name, resulting in aprender el inglés. To express the continuous action of 'learning English', you can use the gerund form aprendiendo inglés. If you want to state that you learned English in the past, use the first-person singular preterite form aprendí inglés.
How do you pronounce it?
/apɾendeɾ inɡles/
Did you know?
- The Spanish word aprender is a cognate of the English word 'apprehend'. While 'apprehend' now often means to arrest someone, both words originally meant to grasp or seize something with the mind.
- The word inglés serves as both the name of the language and the adjective for a person from England. This makes it a 'gendered' noun that changes to inglesa when referring to a woman.
- Spanish has a separate word aprehender that is a doublet of aprender. While aprender is used for learning, aprehender is used for seizing a criminal or grasping a physical object.
Examples in context
- Empezó a aprender inglés.He began to learn English.This sentence shows the use of aprender inglés to describe the beginning of a learning process.Tatoeba #2027578 by Shishir, translation #294027 by CK
- Él fue allí a aprender inglés.He went there to learn English.This sentence uses aprender inglés to describe the purpose of going somewhere.Tatoeba #753038 by Shishir, translation #294021 by brauliobezerra
- Quieras o no, debes aprender inglés.You must learn English whether you like it or not.This sentence uses aprender inglés to express a necessity.Tatoeba #4388659 by saverius, translation #240704 by CK
- Para tener éxito en el mundo globalizado actual, es fundamental aprender inglés.To succeed in today's globalized world, it is crucial to learn English.
- Es recomendable dedicar al menos una hora al día para estudiar inglés.It is advisable to dedicate at least one hour a day to study English.
- Recomiendo tomar clases de inglés con un profesor nativo.I recommend taking English classes with a native teacher.
- Mi objetivo es adquirir habilidades en inglés que me permitan comunicarme con fluidez.My goal is to acquire English skills that allow me to communicate fluently.
- Si quieres viajar, te conviene aprender inglés, ¿no crees?If you want to travel, it's a good idea to learn English, don't you think?
- ¡Amigo, échale ganas al inglés y lo dominarás en poco tiempo!Friend, put effort into English, and you'll master it in no time!
- ¡Ponte las pilas y métete al inglés! Lo vas a disfrutar.Get energized and get into English! You'll enjoy it.
- 28 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
María and Mateo are talking about her new hobby.
- MaríaMateo, quiero aprender inglés.Mateo, I want to learn English.
- MateoEs una excelente idea, María.It is an excellent idea, María.
- María¿Me ayudas a aprender inglés?Will you help me learn English?
- MateoClaro que sí, con gusto te ayudo.Of course, I will gladly help you.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries aprender, inglés, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
